TRACTOR'S TALES.

Blimey, it only seems like yesterday we were playing Leicestershire here. Time flies when you're enjoying yourself (and I suspect I did).

After all the away games at the start of the season, it's nice to have a few on the trot back at Taunton. Travelling can be traumatic ... I made the journey to Manchester by train, and it's no sooner than you step onto the packed train that you wish you'd actually made the journey by car. I'd reserved a seat supposedly facing the direction of travel next to the window. Sure enough, my reservation was in the seat next to the aisle and with my back to the direction of travel. I was sat next to some sort of contortionist who successfully managed to get their legs tucked in behind the seat in front, and they had one of those personal hi-fis where you can hear what sounds like a mouse squealing a semi-familiar tune with a constant beat resembling someone scratching at tin foil. It was either "There's No-one Quite Like Grandma" by The St.Winifred's School Choir, or "Anarchy In The UK" by The Sex Pistols. I changed trains at Crewe onto one of those new tilting trains, but perhaps the Blackthorn tilting compensation factor kicked in because I wasn't aware of any tilting!

For the Leeds trip, I drove, facing the direction of travel, and soon realised that the trains aren't all that bad after all. I ejected my St.Winifred's School Choir Greatest Hits tape to listen out for radio traffic broadcasts, and thank goodness I did otherwise I might not have known which traffic jam I was currently caught up in. A four hour journey was rewarded with the fact that Wednesday's play had been totally washed out, so I had to endure an afternoon of Tetleys bitter in a local hostelry before venturing out to Leeds to visit SpiceMania, a help-yourself-to-as-much-as-you-want (so I did, and more) Indian restaurant.

The best way to travel has to be by plane. All the excitement and exhilaration that goes with air travel cures even the sternest constipation problems well before boarding! There's another trip up to Edinburgh Wednesday week, this time of course I'm allowed to resume the carriage of knitting needles, so maybe I'll run up a small scarf on the journey using no. 50gm ball of moss green double-knit wool. The last time I returned from the Edinburgh trip, I was able to purchase a pint in Edinburgh airport at about 8am, and be back in Bristol to resume Blackthorning by 11am, surely the whole point of modern-day travel.

Today's opponents Surrey will not want to be reminded of their defeat to a strong team of students from Bradford & Leeds Universities just 10 days ago, so I won't remind them. The last time Somerset played Surrey was in that very close encounter in the 4th round of the C&G trophy in 2003. Surrey ran out winners by a mere 6 runs. Let's have them just run out today!

Birthday celebs today include David Beckham (husband to Silly Spice), Jimmy (temporarily Brown) White (former snooker player), Engelbert (Please Release him, let him ... GO) Humperdinck (old time music hall singer), and last year's beneficiary, Keith Parsons. At least one of these superstars should be in the ground today, so wish them a very happy birthday.

May our team be victorious, may the fours be with them (and the sixes), may the rain cease on matchdays, may I have another Blackthorn? Happy Mayday, everybody!

COME ON SOMERSET!!!